The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-02-21
IN MONTANA,

Where the Blizzard Rules and Eases
Supreme.
Daroit Free Press.
The Thermometer marks twenty degrees
below zsro. 1t is stiff and cold. The sun
has acompleto ring, like rainbow, around
it, end four brilliant sun dogs like cnor-
mous candle ilames, only more dazzling,
mark the top, bottom and sides Of this
fiery circle: 1t commences to get hazy,
frost flying, as they say hero. The wind
rises; at first IN occasional puff, finally q
strong, steady wind. Tho Thermometer
keeps falling till it indicates forty below
zero. The haze gets thicker and thicker,
until cne cannot see 200 yards, tho TIRES
or four inches Of light SNOW on the ground
commences to move with wishing sound
like tho spray from tho lake waves in a
sQuall, till finally it seems as though what
snow there was on tho ground Is all in the
air. One cannot sec twenty feet. But we
have only little way to 90, and pulling
our muillers around our face we keep ono
eye uncovered and keep it fastened on the
trail before us. We travel silently along,
fighting the wind at every step. Occas.
ionally something looms up to the right or
left looking like lot OF houses in motion
or train OF cars passing at lightning
speed. They are the range cattle drifting
before tho storm like things demented.
Tho mist makes them look as large as
house,. - - ~,
Our loader stops and turns to the man
behind him, "are you sure this is the
trail" Everyone stops with heart in
mouth aud whiapere to himself: 'Are we
iostP" We huddle together. examine
our supposed trail, and find We have been
following "trip OF ground swept bare by
the raging wind. "Shall NO 90 back ~
Ono glance behind is enough, q second
is sufficient to obliterate tho plainest trail.
We are lost. $50. 8. t.5sy IS
The wind is no guide-ss shifting and
dcceitful as the "will.'-the.wisp." 1t
laughs and screams around US in mocking,
scorniul uourd, which kill hope in the
bravest heart. It grows darker. Night
10 coming on.
A grim determination flls each heart.
We must fight for our lives. go ahead
and trust to- God" Some brave heart
takes tho lead, confident that his time has
not come yet. We struggle along; more
than once ialter, huddle together and
look at each other with grim despair on
every face. We all know what awaits us
not in shelter before night closes in. We
start again, staggering and stumbling
along, leg.weary and hopeless. Il
A cry from our leader makes every
ono's heart leap. Waiting till be comes up
he says, too afraid Of awakening false
hopes to thrust his own senses. "Isn't
that light ?" We strain our eyes eagerly
In the direction indicated. Fl
"Thst's light!' 10 the cry, and we
push ahead, almoat running In our eager.
nees to reach the haven. We find We are
not hundred yards from log shack,
with cheerful light streaming through
the window. We burst in through the
door and arc welcomed to roaring fro in
o big heating stove by kind hearted old
timer. Thanking God for our escape we
enjoy hearty supper; and IS we sit
around tho stove, smoking our pipes and
listening to the bowling wind outside and
bear the stories Of former storms, told by
our host, when many a brave man perish
ed, we look at each other and shudder as
we note the contrast between our present
quarters and a berth on tho prairie with
! the drifting snow for winding sheet.